Carlos Zambrano will participate in the Venezuelan winter league in an effort to catch up on all the pitching he missed while suspended by the Cubs, with Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribunereporting that he’s scheduled to make nine starts for Los Caribes de Anzoategui.

Zambrano’s last game action came way back on August 12, but he’s slated to throw a simulated game tomorrow in preparation for his first start Sunday.

New team president Theo Epstein has said that he wants to meet with Zambrano to discuss his Cubs future, so by making regular starts in Venezuela the 31-year-old right-hander is basically auditioning for a possible trade. Zambrano is owed $18 million in the final season of a five-year, $91.5 million contract and has the ability to block any move.